Picture frame



April 12, 1938. C. 1I BOZUNG v 2,113,871

PICTURE FRAME Filed April 2l, 1937 jg f v fa. l

Patented Apr. 12, 1938 PATENT ortica PICTURE FRAME.

Clarence J. Bozung, Greenville, Mich.

Application April 21,

1 Claim.

My invention is an improvement in picture frames of thatfparticular type in which the back and picture retaining side vpieces are made of sheet metal or other flexible material.

The primary object of my invention is the production of an inexpensive picture frameespecially adaptedv for holding 'photographs yor small pictures, and o f 4such, construction that the photograph orpictu-re can bey readily and conveniently slid into the frame and securely held by adjustablecrosspieces which complete the framing of thepicture. l l

A lfurther object of my invention is to provide a picture frame of light construction and of a peculiar formation whereby a number of the frames may be easily connected together in straight lines or `in groups to presenta neat and attractive arrangement of photographs or pictures either hung on a wall "or supported on a table or bureau. v

With these principal objects in View my invention contemplates the provision of a pictureL frame made up of comparatively thin sheet metal or other light material cut to form a blank of L a particular configuration to present side extensions that are bent or rolled for providing the outwardly projecting side pieces of the frame with which the picture slidably engages, and crosspieces also in `slidable engagement with the side pieces for securely holding the picture in place and completing the framing of the same; all as hereinafter fully described and specically set forth in the appended claim.

. In the drawingz- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a picture frame constructed in accordance with my invention, and including a picture secured therein.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the frame with the crosspieces removed.

Fig. 3 is a view of the blank from which the frame is formed.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views on the lines 4--4 and 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

Fig. 6 is a view of the blank from which a crosspiece is formed.

Fig. '7 is an end view of a crosspiece, and

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are views showing picture frames of my invention in diierent arrangements.

In carrying out my invention the picture frame is made up from a sheet of exible material cut to provide a blank (Fig. 3), said blank comprising a central portion a, formingl the back of the picture frame, with opposite side extensions b,'b, and end extensions c, c, the side ex- 1937, serial No. 138,247

(c1. 3io- 154) tensions providing for the side pieces of the picture frame, while the end extensions are a part of the design of the picture frame andv provide means by which itis supported. In addition to forming the picture frame vfrom a blank the crosspieces, usable in connectiontherewith, are also formed from a blank (Fig. 6), in this instance the blank comprising a strip d having narrow extensions e, e, at the ends thereof, with curved edges f, j, between said extensions and the longitudinal edges of the blank, and l in making up the crosspiece from this blank it is only necessary to turn the opposite sides thereof toward and in contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 7. l

rIn forming the picture frame I0 from the blank hereinabove described the side extensions b, b, are each bent over the body portion or back II and turned inwardly and'upwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, to provide opposite beads or side pieces I2, I2, to receive the longitudinal edges of the picture I3 in slidable engagement therewith from either end of the frame. The side extensions may be bent or rolled to provide side pieces of different shapes in cross section, as for instance oval or round, according to finish desired, it being' essential that the inner portion of said side pieces be disposed a slight distance from the back with the edges turned upwardly to prevent scratching the picture slid into engagement therewith. When the blank is bent to form the side pieces the end extensions I4, I4, (c, c, of the blank) provide for either hanging the frame on a wall (Fig. 1) or one of said end extensionsmay be bent at an angle to provide a supporting foot piece (Fig. 9), and for hanging the frame the aforesaid end extensions are provided with apertures I5.

For the purpose of retaining the picture in engagement with the side pieces, as well as com' plete the framing of said picture, the ends of the crosspieces, I6, I6, formed from the blank as hereinbefore explained, are of a peculiar shape so that they will intimately engage the side pieces of the frame. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 1 and 4 that the curved edges at the ends of the crosspiece engage the inner edges of the side pieces I2, I2, and that the extensions or tongues I'I frictionally engage the outer walls of said side pieces, whereby said crosspieces are securely held in engagement with the frame and picture. Furthermore, it will be understood that as the side pieces of the frame are parallel with each other and the crosspieces frictionally engage the same the latter may be adjustable in 1 ly framing the picture the said crosspieces are preferably similar in shape to the side pieces.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that a picture frame constructed in accordance with my invention can be manufactured and sold at a low price when produced from cheap material as tin, although I contemplate making up the picture frames of finer metal or other material. It is also understood that the frames may be made up in different sizes according to the size of picture for which it is intended, and that in addition to the photograph or other picture a transparent sheet of material may be placed over the photograph, for protection of the same, and held in place by the Vside and crosspieces.Y Y

It will be obvious that a picture frame constructed in accordance with my invention provides a very inexpensive and convenientV means for framing small pictures, such as photographs, and in'addition to these advantages the framed pictures can be arranged in a decorative group by interlocking oneV with another. In connecting the picture frames in alignment anrend extension of one of the frames is lapped over an end extension of the adjoining frame, and the side pieces being brought together at their contiguous ends the assembly will give the apearance of a single picture frame, asillustrated in Fig.V 8, with the crosspieces serving to not only complete the framing of each individual picture, but also actingV to reinforce the joint, the ends of said crosspieces being interlocked with the side pieces and bearing directly against the overlapped end extensions. When connectedtogether in alignment the framed pictures may be hung on a Wall, or,

as shown in Fig. 10, two or more of the framed pictures may be supported on a table in an inclined position by connecting an extra picture an aperture of any one of the frames.

`groupings of the, picture frames may be made Y frame tothe lower one of the series and bending it back at the joint to provide a more substantial base. On the other hand, a single picture may A series of the picture frames in alignment may be hung vertically or horizontally on a Wall, in

the latter instance the pictures being set in the frames to correspond with the hanging; that is, the pictured subject instead of being lengthwise (Figfl) will be crosswise, and it will be understood that in hanging a series of picture frames on the wall vertically they may beV attached by a single thumb tack (I8, Fig. 1) extending'through Other according to fancy, by reason of the particular construction of the frames.

I claim:-

A picture frame made up of a sheet of flexible material bent at its opposite longitudinal edges to form side pieces inconnection with a back, that frame is supported, said'extensions being provided with apertures to receiveattaching means, and

crosspieces extending between the Yside 'pieces l with their ends in intimate frictional engagement therewith, said crosspieces being each formed from a blank comprising a strip with `narrow extensions or tongues-'atthe ends and curved edges between the tongues and longitudinal edges of the strip, the ends of the crosspiece Vconforming to the inner sides of the side pieces and the tonguesY extendinginto theY side pieces to engage Ythe outer walls thereof.

CLARENCE 'J. BozUNG. 

